Israeli Attack Kills a Hamas Commander

A Hamas military commander, Issa Batran, was killed and 11 other people were wounded in Israel airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, the first such strikes since the massive Israeli offensive against Gaza in January 2009. —JCL

The Guardian:

Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip have killed a Hamas commander and wounded 11 other people.

Warplanes fired missiles at five targets across Gaza, including Gaza City, last night for the first time since Israel’s three-week offensive in the territory ended 18 months ago.

Hamas, the Islamist group that controls the territory, said the man killed was Issa Batran, 42, a commander of its military wing in central Gaza and a rocket maker. Eight of its supporters and three civilians were also injured.

The air raids came after a Palestinian rocket attack struck the Israeli coastal city of Ashkelon on Friday, causing no casualties but damaging buildings and cars in the city.

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AP / Hatem Moussa

Palestinians carry the body of Issa Batran, a Hamas military wing commander, during his funeral in central Gaza on Saturday.